Internet shopping

[Badger1]

I was talking to someone yesterday who does all their shopping on the internet. I use e-bay, Amazon etc, but have any of you any experience of doing your weekly shopping on the internet (meat, groceries etc) and would you want to buy without seeing?

[Badger1]

[sueparkin]

I have used it and thought it was ok but some of the fresh stuff was a bit close to the sell by date. Now I tend to do huge shops for all the heavy stuff about once every three months - normally when they send me a free delivery voucher, I'm a canny Yorkshire lass after all- but still pop to the local shops for fresh food.

[grawrc]

YEs we do all the boring stuff online from TEsco or Sainsburys usually and it's fine. Cans, toilet rolls, washing machine powder etc  gets ordered monthly. Means when we shop in person we are only buying stuff where you want to choose your own ie fresh produce. We get lamb and beef from a local farm. You can phone/ email/ or go along and pick your beast. I'm afraid I prefer to phone or email. They do pork too. I'm looking for a local supplier for organic poultry but haven't found them so far. Hopefully in the not too distant future we'll be largely self-supporting in vegetables. 8) ;)

[Badger1]

I was thinking more along the lines of the fresh stuff. Personally I like to have a good look at fresh produce before I buy (BTW, love the avatar grawrc :))

[ipt8]

We use Tesco. They have a comments bit where you can tell the picker how you like your fruit and veg. I must admit we havent tried that bit out much but are generally satisfied with the service - oh and it is possible to do interesting things like gardening or looking after ones pets and animals whilst somene else trudges round the isles, and all for a fiver.

[bupster]

Waitrose are lovely, if very expensive. It saves me carting stuff back on the bike/bus, especially for buying things like washing powder and toilet roll. Oh, and beer  :D

I prefer getting meat daily from the local butchers, but don't mind getting stuff from Waitrose, as they're one of the less vile supermarkets and try to stock more local produce. Veg is much the same; while I'd rather get it from a farmers' market or grow it myself, sometimes it's easier to do it online.

I did virtually all my Christmas shopping on the internet this year, as well as sending up food deliveries to my Dad's flat, where I spent the holidays. I do all my banking on the internet as well. What I'd like is to find an organic-type retailer online that delivers - that would then serve as my main bulk shop so I could do more of the rest face to face in local shops. The daft thing is that I prefer using small local shops and having a bit of a chat - it's just so much easier to order two weeks shopping on your teabreak and have it delivered the following evening ten minutes after you've got home  :D

[Badger1]

But don't you think this is just another weapon in the supermarket war to crush the small family retailer? :(

[grawrc]

Yes, that's why I don't buy fresh produce there, although I have been known to get milk, yoghurt etc.

we try to buy as much as possible from local producers where fresh produce is concerned. Not only does it support local businesses but it cuts down on the huge and environmentally unfriendly transport costs.

Another problem with supermarkets is the availability of out of season produce. I wouldn't consider buying lettuce from Spain in winter for example. Or strawberries in January. I actually enjoy things more when I'm deprived of them for a bit. I have an old cook book called The Cookery Year which lists for each month what is in season and I go by that.

Except for the breakfast mangoes and kiwis it has to be said... :-[ :-[

[katynewbie]

;D

I loathe shopping, so the internet is like manna from heaven for me! Have not been bitten by the ebay bug, but do as much as I can online and let the postie bring it to me...clothes, books, cd's, supermarket stuff, SEEDS, cant think of much i cant get!!

That just leaves farmers markets to do when I can and meaty stuff from local butcher...oooer mrs!!!

;)

[Badger1]

So does our cyber shopping help to destroy the support for local produce? :-\

[ACE]

So does our cyber shopping help to destroy the support for local produce? :-\

I would have thought the opposite as you are more likely to use the small shop to pick up your daily groceries, (milk,bread etc) instead of another trip to the supermarket.

I like to see my meat before buying, and taste the cheese, so my local butcher/grocer  sees me more often now we get the bulk online.

[Doris_Pinks]

I too am a total online shopper because I HATE shopping!
I do use our local greengrocers for fruit (and veg in the winter) sadly our one and only butchers closed down, so am trying to find good local meat, at a good price.

[Margi]

We use Tesco. They have a comments bit where you can tell the picker how you like your fruit and veg. I must admit we havent tried that bit out much but are generally satisfied with the sercvice - oh and it is possible to do interesting like gardening or looking after ones pets and animals whilst somene else trudges roun the isles, and all for  a fiver.

I do an awful lot of internet shopping, including occasional forays into Tesco and Asda's home delivery.  I do resent paying for the delivery, however, and work very hard to cover the delivery cost by getting BOGOFs and buy two get one frees on things I might still have in stock but won't spoil - we quite often have a lot of loo rolls in the house!  I usually manage to cover the delivery...

Margi x

[bupster]

As above, I probably use local butchers and greengrocers more now that I can get the bulk boring stuff delivered. I don't mind shopping daily for my dinner, it's quite fun, but I don't want to be buying heavy bulky stuff that I have to lug home on the bike.

I've also stopped using Blockbusters (not least because they're evil) as Screenselect now deliver all the DVDs I could ever want to watch.

[Paulines7]

I use Tesco's home delivery for my main shopping.  Charges vary from £3.99 to £5.99 according to the day it is delivered.  For me it saves a 28 mile round trip and probably 3 to 4 hours of my time.  I always put a note against perishible items for a long use by date and have rarely been disappointed since doing this.  If I have received anything not up to standard I call the Internet line and they refund that item on my credit card.  I always look at substitutes before the delivery man leaves then if I do not want the items he can take them back with him.  (I'm not being sexist but haven't had a lady delivering my groceries yet!).

It was really handy having Tesco deliver during Christmas week as I didn't have to do battle in the Tesco store.  I have arthritis and spinal problems so spending several hours on my feet getting groceries can be very painful.  I also use E Bay and Amazon for some of my pressies.

[katynewbie]

8)

Ooooh Screenselect!!!! Just had a look, thanks for the heads up Bupster!!

;D ;D

[Margi]

8)

Ooooh Screenselect!!!! Just had a look, thanks for the heads up Bupster!!

;D ;D

Believe it - it's fab! I get probably 2 films a week from them, for a total of £10 a month... bargain!

Margi x

[bupster]

Ooooh Screenselect!!!! Just had a look, thanks for the heads up Bupster!!

 


Believe it - it's fab! I get probably 2 films a week from them, for a total of £10 a month... bargain!

Margi x

I pay £20-ish for four at a time, and usually watch around three a week, sometimes more. I have 417 items in my selection. Oop.

It's like getting a Christmas present twice a week.  :D

[grawrc]

I think the cyber shopping probably helps local produce, cos there are some things you just want to choose yourself so you go local to get them. Stuff like cleaning products etc isn't produced locally anyway for most of us so it has to be transported from wherever it's produced.

[Heldi]

I would love to use the internet for grocery shopping, only, last time I enquired the big supermarkets didn't cover my area.  I would still use my local shops for everyday sorts of things.